Self-fastening and replaceable fastener for attaching to at least one layer of fabric

ABSTRACT

A self-fastening and replaceable fastener for attaching a button to at least one layer of fabric. The fastener includes a coil. The button has at least one sew throughbore. The coil is helically-shaped so as to form a thread pattern for treatably puncturing through at least one of the at least one layer of fabric. The coil has a head and a tip that passes through an associated sew throughbore in the button and treatably punctures through the at least one layer of fabric, until such time as the head of the coil, which is widened, seats on the button.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a fastener for a button. More particularly, the present invention relates to a self-fastening and replaceable fastener for attaching a button to at least one layer of fabric.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Broken or lost buttons on garments, such as shirts and blouses usually result from mechanical stress of washers and dryers, commercial pressing equipment, and normal wear. The discovery that a button has been broken or lost is often made at an inconvenient time, for example, while dressing, at work, traveling, or when the garment is unpackaged from the laundry. At such times, it may be inconvenient or impossible to repair the button using the tried and trued techniques of needle and thread or sewing machine. Even if a needle and thread or sewing machine is available, many individuals have difficulties manipulating these devices due to poor eyesight, coordination or the like, or are simply disinclined to engage in such activity.

[0005] Thus, a need exists for quickly and easily replacing lost buttons to garments, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a lost button.

[0006] Numerous innovations for fastener devices have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention.

[0007] FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,678,797 to Seckerson teaches a resilient fastener comprising a head and a shank which is mountable in a workpiece formed with a circular aperture. The shank comprises a substantially flat and rigid stem, which is integral with the head and which extends lengthwise of the shank in a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the shank. Extending lengthwise of the shank on opposite sides of the stem are two resilient tongues each of which is joined to the stem along one longitudinal edge and each of which has a free longitudinal edge which is flexible towards the stem in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the stem. Preferably, an outwardly projecting rib is provided extending lengthwise along the free longitudinal edge of each tongue and each rib is shouldered adjacent the head.

[0008] ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,776,092 to Sseckerson teaches a resilient synthetic plastics fastener having a head and a shank extending outwardly from the undersurface of the head and comprising a longitudinal stem and two longitudinal flanges lying one on each side of the stem. The flanges are joined to the stem by resilient webs and are compressible inwardly of the shank towards the stem. Each flange has a longitudinal edge remote from the web and an outer surface which comprises a longitudinal operative face adjacent the said edge and a longitudinal inoperative face between the operative and the web. The operative face of each flange is convexly curved in section and is adapted to engage the rim of a circular aperture when the shank is inserted through the aperture and the inoperative face is adapted to clear the rim of the aperture so as to substantially reduce the area of interference between the flanges and the rim of the aperture.

[0009] STILL ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,001,923 to Frankel et al teaches a jewelry clasp that is provided with a female member and a complementary male member adapted to cooperate with a releasable locking member disposed within the body of the female member, where the locking member engages the male member to hold the male member within the female member to prevent removal thereof. The locking member includes an integral one-piece construction having a locking portion for engaging the male member, a resilient portion for biasing the locking portion against the male member, and an actuating portion for moving the locking portion relative to the pressure of the resilient portion for releasing the male member to permit retraction of the male member from the female member. A holding member disposed within the female member positions the resilient portion relative to the female member. In a modified embodiment, the female member is provided with two integral one-piece locking members to function as a safety precaution to prevent accidental retraction of the male member from the female member.

[0010] YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,063,312 to Braillard teaches a button-securing device that comprises a spacing piece having flat opposite faces holding a button spaced apart from a fabric. An integral, flexible elongate attachment extends from the piece to a pointed end with fixing barbs. This attachment can be brought to a looped button-securing configuration by passing it through openings in the button, through the fabric, and back through the fabric into an opening in the spacing piece where it is held.

[0011] STILL YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,962 to van Buren, Jr. teaches a panel hole closure that is composed of a rigid plate having an integral array of resilient fingers projecting from one surface of the plate inboard of the plate rim. A integral stiffener is provided for each finger which stiffens the finger against inward deflection toward the axis of the plate so that once the closure is seated in a panel aperture, it is difficult to dislodge. A plastic sealing ring encircling the plate rim may be melted and flow to provide a fluid-tight seal between the closure plate and panel.

[0012] YET STILL ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,607 to Kramer et al. teaches a double-layered counter holder plate having a support bent from an inner layer thereof, the support supporting the inner and outer layers spaced opposite one another by resting on an inner surface of the spaced layer, the latter layer serving as a support for rolling the claws of a closure, the inner layer being overlapped by the claws.

[0013] STILL YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,182 to Seibt teaches a button anchor apparatus that has an elongated elastic thread having an elongated needle portion formed on one end thereof and an elongated ferrule formed on the other end of said elongated elastic thread and having a bore formed in one end thereof. The ferrule bore is adapted to accept the needle for locking the button to the garment. A method of attaching a button with a button anchor apparatus is also provided including the steps of pushing the needle through the garment, threading the elastic thread through the button and back through the garment, then attaching the end of the needle into the open end of the ferrule by stretching the elastic thread to allow the elongated needle to be aligned with and inserted into the ferrule bore.

[0014] YET STILL ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,343 to Riche teaches a method for attaching a button to a piece of fabric or clothing is provided. The method includes the step of pre-threading a two or four-holed button with a piece of tying thread connected at both ends to a pair of needles and then inserting the needles through the fabric or clothing in order to attach the button. Once the needles are pulled through the fabric, a double knot is tied close to the fabric on the needle end side and the needles are then discarded by cutting the thread at a point adjacent to the fabric. The method enables the offsetting of the button from the fabric or garment and also avoids the complications of having to thread the button holes and the fabric sequentially as part of the attachment process.

[0015] STILL YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,287 to Ohkawa et al. teaches a fastener that includes a female body and male body. By forcibly inserting the male body into a male body insertion hole of the female body, the two bodies are temporarily coupled together. By further inserting the male body into the female body from this state, leg portions of the female body are caused to flare outwardly so that overlapped plates are fastened together between the flared leg portions and a head portion of the female body. By further inserting the male body into the female body from this state, the leg portions are released from the flared state, so that the plates can be unfastened. When and only when the leg portions are inserted through a hole of a plate to be fastened by means of the fastener disposed in the temporarily coupled state, can the male body be further inserted within the female body so as to fasten the two plates to each other.

[0016] YET STILL ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,396 to Benoit teaches a fastener assembly for engagement with an aperture in an article including a fastener having at least a shank, a head at a first end of the shank and a resilient retaining member along the shank for releasably retaining the fastener to the article after insertion of at least a portion of the retaining member within the aperture, and an engagement member for compressing the retaining member prior to insertion within the aperture and contact of the retaining member with the article, and for preventing compression of the retaining member by the article about the aperture.

[0017] STILL YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,954 to Sobin teaches a flexible fastener that has an apex region, a first cantilevered leg and a second cantilevered leg, joined to one another at an apex region. A distributed spring action area is positioned off of the apex region, and along at least one of the cantilevered legs, and is formed by providing the apex with a relatively thick head compared with the thickness of the leg members, so that flexure is limited to the legs, and kept away from the apex region. The flexible fastener is particularly suited for use in a catch assembly for jewelry, especially a bangle. Preferably the flexible fastener is substantially planar, and flexes within its plane of construction. Although the flexible fastener can be constructed from any material which acts as a spring, preferably the fastener is constructed from heat treatable carat gold alloy spring material.

[0018] YET STILL ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,709 to Kittmann et al. teaches an expansion anchor to be anchored in a hole of one member to connect thereto another member that includes a head to abut a surface of the one member. A shaft extends from the head to be inserted through the hole in the one member. The shaft has extending therefrom fins that are deflectable toward the shaft upon insertion of the fins with the shaft into a hole and that are resiliently expandable away from the shaft when the fins have passed through the hole. Thus, the fins abut the opposite surface of the one member to prevent removal of the anchor from the hole. At least one stopper member is positioned relative to the shaft to cooperate with an inner edge of the hole to maintain a desired position of the shaft laterally relative to the hole. The fins have respective projections dimensioned such that, when the fins have passed through the hole, the projections extend into the hole and cooperate with the inner edge thereof to maintain the desired lateral position. The stopper member and the projections are located at different, non-overlapping positions relative to the shaft.

[0019] STILL YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,486 to Bockenheimer teaches a closure element that is made of plastic, particularly for sealing off at least one opening in at least one support member, in particular, in a automotive body, the closure element including a head section located above the support, and a basic body portion extending through the support. At least one region of the closure element is made of a material which expands under the influence of temperature. The basic body portion and the head section of the closure element is preferably formed of a single piece of thermal plastic material, which, is with increased thermal influence, media-tight bondable via a gluing action within the openings.

[0020] It is apparent that numerous innovations for fastener devices have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0021] ACCORDINGLY, AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a self-fastening and replaceable fastener for attaching a button to at least one layer of fabric that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0022] ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a self-fastening and replaceable fastener for attaching a button to at least one layer of fabric that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

[0023] STILL ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a self-fastening and replaceable fastener for attaching a button to at least one layer of fabric that is simple to use.

[0024] BRIEFLY STATED, YET ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a self-fastening and replaceable fastener for attaching a button to at least one layer of fabric. The fastener includes a coil. The button has a plurality of sew throughbores. The coil is helically-shaped so as to form a thread pattern for threadably puncturing through at least one of the at least one layer of fabric. The coil has a head and a tip that passes through an associated sew throughbore in the button and threadably punctures through the at least one of the at least one layer of fabric, until such time as the head of the coil, which is widened, seats on the button.

[0025] The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0026] The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:

[0027]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the present invention attached to at least one layer of fabric;

[0028]FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view taken along LINE 2-2 in FIG. 1 of a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0029]FIG. 2A is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the coil of the present invention shown in FIG. 2 being threadably punctured through at least one layer of the at least one layer of fabric by a driver;

[0030]FIG. 2B is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW 2B in FIG. 2A of the spring driver of the present invention shown in FIG. 2A.

[0031]FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view taken along LINE 3-3 in FIG. 1 of a second embodiment of the present invention; and

[0032]FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view taken along LINE 4-4 in FIG. 1 of a third embodiment of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING

[0033]  10 self-fastening and replaceable fastener of present invention for attaching a button 11 to at least one layer of fabric 12  11 button  12 at least one layer of fabric First Embodiment 110 self-fastening and replaceable fastener 112 at least one layer of fabric 111 button 116 coil for puncturing through at least one layer of at least one layer of fabric 112 118 fabric-abutting side of button 111 120 ambient-facing side of button 111 122 plurality of sew throughbores in button 111 126 head of coil 116 128 tip of coil 116 for puncturing through one layer of at least one layer of fabric 112 130 spring driver for treatably puncturing tip 128 of coil 116 through at least one layer of fabric 112 132 shaft of spring driver 130 134 proximal end of shaft 132 of spring driver 130 136 distal end of shaft 132 of spring driver 130 138 handle of spring driver 130 Second Embodiment 210 self-fastening and replaceable fastener 212 at least one layer of fabric 216 coil 228 tip of coil 216 for treatably puncturing through at least one layer of fabric 212 230 adhesive cloth tape Third Embodiment 310 self-fastening and replaceable fastener 316 coil 328 tip of coil 316 330 disk

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to FIG. 1, which is a diagrammatic perspective view of the present invention attached to at least one layer of fabric, the self-fastening and replaceable fastener of the present invention is shown generally at 10 for attaching a button 11 to at least one layer of fabric 12.

[0035] The configuration of a first embodiment of the self-fastening and replaceable fastener 110 can best be seen in FIGS. 2, 2A, and 2B, which are, respectively, a diagrammatic cross sectional view taken along LINE 2-2 in FIG. 1 of a first embodiment of the present invention, a diagrammatic side elevational view of the coil of the present invention shown in FIG. 2 being treatably punctured through at least one layer of the at least one layer of fabric by a driver, and a diagrammatic side elevational view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW 2B in FIG. 2A of the driver shown in FIG. 2A, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

[0036] The self-fastening and replaceable fastener 110 comprises a coil 116 for depending through the button 111 and for puncturing through at least one of the at least one layer of fabric 112.

[0037] The button 111 has a fabric-abutting side 118, an ambient-facing side 120 that is opposite to the fabric-abutting side 118 thereof, and a plurality of sew throughbores 122 that extend from the fabric-abutting side 118 thereof to the ambient-facing side 120 thereof.

[0038] The coil 116 is hollow, slender, elongated, and helically-shaped so as to form a thread pattern for threadably puncturing through at least one of the at least one layer of fabric 112.

[0039] The coil 116 has ahead 126 and a tip 128. The tip 128 of the coil 116 passes through an associated sew throughbore of the plurality of sew throughbores 122 in the button 114 and is for threadably puncturing through the at least one of the at least one layer of fabric 112, until such time as the head 126 of the coil 116, which is widened, seats on the button 114.

[0040] The tip 128 of the coil 116 is sharp for facilitating threadably puncturing through the at least one of the at least one layer of fabric 112.

[0041] The tip 128 of the coil 116 is for threadably puncturing through only one of the at least one layer of fabric 112, and after threadably puncturing, is for being concealed by another of the at least one layer of fabric 112, if present.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 2A, the self-fastening and replaceable fastener 110 further comprises a spring driver 130 for threadably puncturing the tip 128 of the coil 116 through the at least one layer of fabric 112.

[0043] The configuration of the spring driver 130 can best be seen in FIG. 2B, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

[0044] The spring driver 130 has a shaft 132 that is slender, elongated, and has a proximal end 134 and a distal end 136, and a handle 138 that extends coaxially from, and is wider than, the proximal end 134 of the shaft 130.

[0045] The distal end 136 of the shaft 132 is pointed for facilitating insertion into the head 126 of the coil 116 for rotation therewith so as to allow the tip 128 of the coil 116 to threadably puncture the at least one layer of fabric 112 when the handle 138 of the spring driver 130 is rotated.

[0046] The configuration of a second embodiment of the self-fastening and replaceable fastener 210 can best be seen in FIG. 3, which is a diagrammatic cross sectional view taken along LINE 3-3 in FIG. 1 of a second embodiment of the present invention, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

[0047] The self-fastening and replaceable fastener 210 is similar to the self-fastening and replaceable fastener 110, except that the tip 228 of the coil 216 is for threadably puncturing through the at least one layer of fabric 212, and after threadably puncturing, is concealed by an adhesive cloth tape 230.

[0048] The configuration of a third embodiment of the self-fastening and replaceable fastener 310 can best be seen in FIG. 4, which is a diagrammatic cross sectional view taken along LINE 4-4 in FIG. 1 of a third embodiment of the present invention, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

[0049] The self-fastening and replaceable fastener 310 is similar to the self-fastening and replaceable fastener 210, except that the adhesive cloth tape 230 is replaced by a disk 330 that is internally threaded and treatably receives the tip 328 of the coil 316.

[0050] It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

[0051] While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a self-fastening and replaceable button for a fabric, however, it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

[0052] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A self-fastening and replaceable fastener for attaching a button to at least one layer of fabric, wherein the button has at least one sew throughbore, comprising a coil; wherein said coil is for depending through said button; and wherein said coil is for puncturing through at least one of the at least one layer of fabric.
 2. The fastener as defined in claim 1, wherein said coil is hollow; wherein said coil is slender; wherein said coil is elongated; and wherein said coil is helically-shaped so as to form a thread pattern for treatably puncturing through at least one of the at least one layer of fabric.
 3. The fastener as defined in claim 1, wherein said coil has a head; wherein said coil has a tip; wherein said tip of said coil is for passing through an associated sew throughbore of the at least one throughbore in said button; and wherein said tip of said coil is for treatably puncturing through at least one of the at least one layer of fabric, until such time as said head of said coil, which is widened, seats on the button.
 4. The fastener as defined in claim 3, wherein said tip of said coil is sharp for facilitating treatably puncturing through the at least one of the at least one layer of fabric.
 5. The fastener as defined in claim 3, wherein said tip of said coil is for threadably puncturing through only one of the at least one layer of fabric, and after threadably puncturing, is for being concealed by another of the at least one layer of fabric, if present.
 6. The fastener as defined in claim 3, wherein said tip of said coil is for threadably puncturing through the at least one layer of fabric, and after threadably puncturing, is concealed by an adhesive cloth tape.
 7. The fastener as defined in claim 3, wherein said tip of said coil is for threadably puncturing through the at least one layer of fabric, and after threadably puncturing, is concealed by a disk that is internally threaded and threadably receives said tip of said coil.
 8. The fastener as defined in claim 3; further comprising a spring driver; and wherein said spring driver is for threadably puncturing said tip of said coil through the at least one layer of fabric.
 9. The fastener as defined in claim 8, wherein said spring driver has a shaft; wherein said shaft of said spring driver is slender; wherein said shaft of said spring driver is elongated; wherein said shaft of said spring driver has a proximal end; wherein said shaft of said spring driver has a distal end; wherein said spring driver has a handle; wherein said handle of said spring driver extends coaxially from said proximal end of said shaft; and wherein said handle of said spring driver is wider than said proximal end of said shaft. 10 The fastener as defined in claim 9, wherein said distal end of said shaft is pointed for facilitating insertion into said head of said coil for rotation therewith so as to allow said tip of said coil to treatably puncture the at least one layer of fabric when said handle of said spring driver is rotated. 